Quality Time with Dad

Click here: Zawaj.com – Quality Time with Dad

A popular American song by Harry Chapin tells the sad story of a boy who always tries to spend time with his father, but always finds him too busy. When the boy grows up and the father gets older, the father always wants to spend time with his son, but his son always has other things to do.

Quality time spent between a father and his children is essential for both the parent and the children. The children need to know that their father loves and cares for them, and the father needs to be careful that he doesnÕt lose his relationship with his children by neglect….There are several ways a father can spend quality time with his children and develop a relationship with them. Even if he is extremely busy, he can probably free up enough time to do some of these things.

So What About Iran?

Click here: ICH – So What About Iran?

DO BUSH, Cheney & Co. indeed intend to attack Iran?  don`t know, but my suspicion that they might is getting stronger. Why? Because George Bush is nearing the end of his term of office. If it ends the way things look now, he will be remembered as a very bad – if not the worst – president in the annals of the republic. His term started with the Twin Towers catastrophe, which reflected no great credit on the intelligence agencies, and would come to a close with the grievous Iraq fiasco.

There is only one year left to do something impressive and save his name in the history books. In such situations, leaders tend to look for military adventures. Taking into account the man`s demonstrated character traits, the war option suddenly seems quite frightening.  True, the American army is pinned down in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even people like Bush and Cheney could not dream, at this time, of invading a country four times larger than Iraq, with three times the population.

But, quite possibly the war-mongers are whispering in Bush`s ear: What are you worrying about? No need for an invasion. Enough to bomb Iran, as we bombed Serbia and Afghanistan. We shall use the smartest bombs and the most sophisticated missiles against the two thousand or so targets, in order to destroy not only the Iranian nuclear sites but also their military installations and government offices. `We shall bomb them back into the stone age,` as an American general once said about Vietnam, or `turn their clock back 20 years,` as the Israeli Air Force general Dan Halutz said about Lebanon.

That`s a tempting idea. The US will only use its mighty Air Force, missiles of all kinds and the powerful aircraft-carriers, which are already deployed in the Persian/Arabian Gulf. All these can be sent into action at any time on short notice. For a failed president approaching the end of his term, the idea of an easy, short war must have an immense attraction. And this president has already shown how hard it is for him to resist temptations of this kind.

Only Iraqi Kurds support U.S. partition idea

Click here: AlArabiya.net – Only Iraqi Kurds support U.S. partition idea

Shiite and Sunni figures in Iraq dismissed Saturday a U.S. Senate plan to split Iraq along ethnic and religious lines, while the Kurds welcomed it as the “only viable solution” to the present chaos and expressed anger over a secret deal reached with Turkey.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said upon his return from the United States that the idea being floated there by a U.S. senator and presidential hopeful would “be a catastrophe not only in Iraq but also on the region.”…The only place where the splitting of Iraq was popular was in the Kurdish region in the north which already enjoys a large degree of autonomy and relative stability. “The people and government of the Kurdistan region welcome the adoption of the U.S. Senate resolution calling for the rebuilding of the Iraqi state on the basis of federalism,” a statement from the regional government said.

Kingdom Urges New Approach to Middle East

Click here: ArabNews – Kingdom Urges New Approach to Middle East

JEDDAH, 30 September 2007 — Saudi Arabia yesterday called upon major international powers to change the current approach toward the Arab-Israeli conflict and find a just and lasting solution to the 60-year-old dispute in order to promote world peace and save the region from an impending catastrophe….The Kingdom criticized the Quartet — the US, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations — for sidestepping the underlying substantive issues of the Middle East conflict. “Clearly there is a need for a fresh start to overcome previous hurdles and obstacles. In this regard, the Arab peace initiative represents a unique and historical opportunity to reinvigorate the peace process,” he said, referring to the peace plan which was proposed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and relaunched at the last Arab summit in Riyadh….Prince Saud emphasized the importance of making the whole Middle East, including the Gulf region, free of nuclear weapons. “Israel is the only country in the region which is known to have weapons of mass destruction but is not subject to any form of monitoring,” he pointed out.

McCain Casts Muslims as Less Fit to Lead

Click here: NYT – McCain Casts Muslims as Less Fit to Lead

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 — Senator John McCain said in an interview posted on the Internet on Saturday that the Constitution established the United States as a Christian nation and that his faith is probably of better spiritual guidance than that of a Muslim candidate for president.“I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, that’s a decision the American people would have to make, but personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith,” Mr. McCain said in response to a question about the possibility of a Muslim’s running for president.

East Turkestan: What Goes for Tibet, Goes for East Turkestan

Click here: unpo.org –  East Turkestan: What Goes for Tibet, Goes for East Turkestan

China has a significant minority of Muslims but only those considered loyal to the state are allowed to take part in the pilgrimage to Mecca. Representatives of the Muslim Uighur people came to the Human Rights Council to criticise the restrictions on religious freedom in China.
…He accepts that there is a small fundamentalist faction (in Islam), but he insists it is not representative. However Mamtimin maintains the government chooses the people it allows to go to Mecca on the basis of their political behaviour, expecting that they will spread the regime’s propaganda. It also appoints Immams who keep lists of the people who go to the mosque and monitor their religious opinions. Schools teaching the Koran have been closed and Uighur children can no longer get a religious education.

“Zerkalo”: Hijab (Headscarf) or Education? It’s Not Question, It’s a Problem

Click here: demaz.org –  “Zerkalo”: Hijab (Headscarf) or Education? It’s Not Question, It’s a Problem

Two students of State Institute of Teachers of Azerbaijan were removed from lecture hall again for wearing hijab (headscarf).After interference of mass media and human rights activists head of institute made concessions: students-girls of second shift wearing hijab were freely allowed to studies on Monday.
“Legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan contains no ban relating to wearing hijab by women-believers in public places and Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan doesn’t impose ban with regards to wearing hijab in educational centers”, said head of section on public relations of the Ministry, Bayram Huseinzade (“Trend”). As representative of Ministry of Education informed, “at present Ministry is investigating illegal conduct of head of institute”

….We should remind here that in 1997 then President of Turkey, Ahmet Nejad Sezer, issued decree prohibiting wearing hijab in state educational centers and state institutions. Women in Muslim headscarves were not allowed to partake in political meetings, woman-journalist lost access to press conferences.
In 1999 Parliament member, Merve Kavakji, caused indignation amongst her colleagues, when she made attempt to take an oath with covered head.
In May 2002, Religious Consultative Council of Turkey issued fetva (decision) which stated that wearing hijab is religious obligation of Muslim women and nobody has right to take it from them. Finally Turkish authorities recognize that forcible methods fail to force women to take off hijab just like wearing it.

IDB, ICD sign deal with Japan bank

Click here: IINA – IDB, ICD sign deal with Japan bank

Jeddah – Ramadan 18, 1428/ September 30, 2007 – The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), an IDB group institution, for strengthening mutual relations. It is expected that these MoUs will lead to increased trade, investment and other business activities between Japan and IDB member-countries through exchange of useful information, and thereby improve the investment climate among IDB member-countries through infrastructure development, according to an IDB statement.

Syria says Israeli air raid aimed at justifying future attack

Click here: AFP – Syria says Israeli air raid aimed at justifying attack

DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syrian Vice President Faruq al-Shara said on Saturday that a recent Israeli air raid on what is thought to be a Syrian military installation was meant to provide justification for future aggression on the country.

“Those who continue to talk about this raid and to invent inaccurate details (about it), are aiming to justify a future aggression” againt Syria, Shara said at a press conference with his visiting Iraqi counterpart, Adel Abdel Mahdi.”They are manipulating public opinion to convince it that (Israel) does not want war. They are lying about that,” he added.

Vote for President in Lebanon Delayed

Click here: NYT – Vote for President in Lebanon Delayed

BEIRUT, Sept. 25 — The Lebanese Parliament, which was scheduled to elect a new president today, failed to muster a quorum because of the deadlock among the country’s political factions, and the vote was postponed until Oct. 23.

But faction leaders showed some new willingness to negotiate with one another, in a session that was carefully choreographed to quell popular fears of civil strife in the country.

Two Azeri pilgrims set out for Haj on foot

Click here: IINA – Two Azeri pilgrims set out for Haj on foot

Jeddah – Ramadan 18, 1428/ September 30, 2007 – Two Azeri pilgrims are walking to Makkah on foot to perform Haj, according to an official of the Azerbaijan Consulate General in Jeddah. Uktair Qurbanov, Consul for Haj Affairs, said the pilgrims are expected to reach Riyadh by November from where they proceed to Makkah for Haj. The pilgrims were said to have been inspired by a similar journey by Shahid Qurbanov last year. Qurbanov became the first pilgrim from the former Soviet bloc to travel on foot to Makkah when he came for Haj 2006, The Saudi Gazette reported.
If the two pilgrims follow the same route taken by Shahid, they will have to travel more than 5,000 km. from Baku and cross the borders in Iran and Kuwait before reaching Saudi Arabia.

Swiss immigration rules blasted as racist

Click here: EuroNews – Swiss immigration rules blasted as racist

Switzerland’s immigration process is unfair and, in some cases, racist – that is the view of the country’s racial discrimination watchdog. In a hard-hitting report it criticises the practice of allowing members of a community to vote on an individual’s citizenship application.

Muslims and people from the Balkans and Africa are the most likely to be rejected, it says. A senior official from the agency said: “We’ve had cases where all Muslim candidates have been refused and when they’ve applied two years later have been turned down again. And the reason when given – because it’s not always given, as some people are afraid to admit their xenophobia – when they do give they say it’s because they’re not integrated Muslims.”

Muslims mark anniversary of historic Battle of Badr

Click here: IINA – Muslims mark anniversary of historic Battle of Badr

Jeddah – Ramadan 17, 1428/ September 29, 2007 – Today is the anniversary of the historic Battle of Badr. With this battle began a remarkable Era in the history of Islam. The migration (Hijrah) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to Madinah had turned the enemies from Makkah more hostile, and they constantly kept on thinking how they could overthrow him, and put an end to Islam. The Battle of Badr was the most important among the Islamic battles of Destiny. For the first time, the followers of the new faith were put into a serious test.

Cambodian Muslims in dire need of copies of Quran

Click Here: IINA – Cambodian Muslims in dire need of copies of Quran

Kuala Lumpur – Ramadan 17, 1428/ September 29, 2007 – Cambodian Muslims are in dire need of copies of the Holy Quran as they are hard to get in Cambodia and often stolen from mosques, said Cambodia’s Mufti Kamaruddin Yusof. “This made preaching and protecting the sanctity of Islam difficult, he told reporters after visiting Malaysia’s Deputy Information Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at his office here yesterday. According to the mufti, the Cambodian Islamic Supreme Council was also developing an Islamic education system to assist about 500,000 Muslims in the country to improve their standard of living.

Karachi to host International Islamic Banking Conference in April

Click Here: IINA – Karachi to host International Islamic Banking Conference in April

Islamabad – Ramadan 17, 1428/ September 29, 2007 – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), will organize the Third International Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance: Risk Management, Regulations and Supervision in Karachi next April. Prominent international experts and specialists on Islamic banking and finance will present papers on various aspects of this fast growing mode of banking at the conference. The first and second conferences were held in Indonesia and Malaysia in 2003 and 2005 respectively.

Sheikh Al Sabouni named Islamic Personality of the Year

Click here: IINA – Sheikh Al Sabouni named Islamic Personality of the Year

ubai – Ramadan 17, 1428/ September 29, 2007 – Renowned Islamic scholar from Syria Sheikh Mohammed Ali Al Sabouni has been named Islamic Personality of the Year by the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) Organizing Committee. Addressing a Press conference here yesterday, Ibrahim Bu Melha, chairman of the Organizing Committee of DIHQA, said the selection of Sheikh Al Sabouni is victory of the scientific inimitability of the Holy Quran. “The scholar has done remarkable work in interpretation of the Holy Quran and has completed a number of research studies on the subject. Sheikh Al Sabouni is the one of the contemporary scholars who interpreted Quran. He has 40 publications in Quran Tafseer (interpretation),” he pointed out…. In the early sixties he joined the Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah where he taught for 28 years. Besides being a professor of Shariah and Islamic Studies, he has also served as scientific researcher in the Centre of Scientific Research and Revival of Islamic Heritage. The university assigned to him the task of verifying ancient manuscripts before they were published. He worked for years investigating the Tafseer of Abu Jaafar Al-Nahas who died in 338 AH. The manuscript was the only existing copy and was published in six volumes by the university. The scholar has got many published works and books in Qur’anic studies, Shariah and other Islamic sciences.

Pakistan and UN Islamic Bloc Slams Holocaust Survivors; NGOs Protest

Click here: UNWatch.org – Pakistan and UN Islamic Bloc Slams Holocaust Survivors; NGOs Protest

Geneva, Sept. 28, 2007 —  An international coalition of non-governmental organizations today published a protest against a U.N. speech by Pakistan that accused Holocaust survivors of “campaigning against Muslim symbols in the Western world” and that called hatred of Muslims “a cruel form of Anti-Semitism.” The letter was sent to Masood Khan, Pakistan’s UN envoy in Geneva, who made the comments on Tuesday before the UN Human Rights Council, speaking on behalf of the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Halal market bids opportunities for Philippine exporters

Click Here: Balita.ph – Halal market bids opportunities for Philippine exporters

Taking into consideration the myriad gains of going Halal has driven a lot of food companies to obtain certification. More than two billion Muslims in over 100 countries, as well as non-Muslims, too, are a huge untapped market for Halal food products.”Production and manufacturing firms interested to secure Halal certification will certainly help boost sales,” said Ms Suraida Guro, one of DTI-Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP)’s market desk officers and the designated associate business development manager for Halal products, “because there is always a market segment which will always prioritize food commodities made in a clean, uncontaminated, germ-free environment whether you are a Muslim or not.”

Enlightening trade account readies exporters for a November 2007 road show in halal markets like GCC being organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) together with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) offices in Jeddah and Dubai, and the Philippine embassies in the said states.

Dubbed the IFEX Philippines Road Show to GCC countries is an effort to nourish the burgeoning market for Filipino food in the region brought about by the fast growing population of overseas workers in the GCC.This resulted in the increased demand of our variety of products, gaining acceptance and exposure not only in Filipino and oriental shops in ME countries but in large, mainstream stores as well.